Edwards Air Force Base

Flight testing at Edwards has come a long way since the first olive-drab XP-59A lifted off from the lakebed more than 60 years ago. Over the years, the U.S. Air Force and the world of aerospace have continued to meet the future in the clear blue skies above the base. Every single aircraft to enter the Air Force's inventory -- and a great many that failed to do so -- has been put through its paces at Edwards. Some Navy and Army aircraft have been tested here as well.

Arguably, more major milestones in flight have occurred at this base than anywhere else in the world. The demands of the Global War on Terrorism and the ever-accelerating pace of technological change over the past half-century have been daunting, but the Edwards flight test community repeatedly demonstrates its ability to adapt to these changes and to master the many challenges they impose.

The turbojet revolution, the space revolution, the systems revolution and now the unmanned aircraft systems revolution have imposed seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Each barrier, however, has been overcome through a combination of technical aptitude, daring ingenuity and skillful management.

Indeed, the Air Force Flight Test Center's unique blend of natural, technical and human resources has transformed it into something much more than a benefit to the Air Force; it is an irreplaceable national asset.